Plural-disk cushion clutch



F. M. MELVIN. PLURAL DISK CUSHION CLUTCH. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9I1921.

' gm rite; ajfMjWflZl Wih ma a ('ltto n q Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

. amwkg their FREDERICK M. MELVIN, OF LA PLATE. MISSOURI.

PL'JRAL-DISK CUSHION CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 21, 1922..

Application filed February 9, 1921. Serial No. 143,730.

T0 or whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK M. MnLvIN, acitizen of the United States, residing at La Plata, in the county ofMacon and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Plural-DiskCushion Clutch, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a. novel cushion frictionclutch for controlling or regulating the operation of the steering gearon Ford automobiles; and to provide novel combinations of disks adaptedto accomplish the desired end. I attain these and other objects. of myinvention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a vertical section of the invention applied to thesteering gear of the type disclosed;

. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of disk 7;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of disk 8;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of disk 10;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through one arrangement of mydisks;

Fig. 6 is an edge elevational view of a modified arrangement of thedisks;

Fig. 7 is an edge elevational view of another arrangement of the disks;

Fig. 8 is still another arrangement of disks; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the modified disk 11.

Like numerals designate like parts in each of the several views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, theconventional steering gear casing 1 is shown, having the screw top 4inclosing the steering gear 5, which is mounted on steering post 3,which latter member carries the steering wheel 2, all being ofconventional type. Mounted on steering gear 5 I provide a metalringshaped disk 7, on which is mounted a second metal ring-shaped disk8, said disk having suitable protrusions 9, adapted to frictionallyengage a suitable cushion disk of thick flexible material, such as,felt, leather, rubber, structure. In lieu of the disk 8 I may provide acorrugated ring-shaped disk 10; or, I may provide a squared disk 11havor an equivalent substance or ing rounded corners, and which is ofless area than the cushion disks 6, so that the felt will overlap thecorners and substantially the same frictional function will be obtainedby reasonof the shape and size of disk 11, as shown in Fig. 9.

In using the invention any of the arrangement of disks shown in Figs.5-8 may be employed. In Fig. 5 the felt disk 6 is mounted on the pebbledisk 8, the projections 9 of which frictionally engage the cushion disk6, and the disk 8 in turn is mounted on another metal disk 7, andinclosed within the cover 4 of easing 1 on the steering gear 5, as shownin Fig. 1, the cover l being screwed down to a moderate tension andlocked with a small set-screw. The three disks 6, 8, and 7 form asmoothly operating friction clutch which will function to hold thesteering post and steering gear in any particular position to which ithas been directed by the steering or driving wheel 2, and will relievethe driver of the necessity of constantly maintaining a grip on thesteering wheel, for the wheel will remain turned at whatever angle ithas been shifted to. The disks 10 and 11 may either be substituted forthe disk 8, and will function in a similar manner, as the corrugationsand the rounded and squared edges of disk 11 provide a friction elementrelative to the felt cushion equivalent to the projections 9 of disk 8.I may position the cushion 6 between the disks 7, as in Fig. 6, eitherwith or without the disk 8, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 or I may omit thedisk 7 and use the disks 6 and 8 as in Fig. 8. The friction disk 8 (or10 or 11) remains stationary on the felt cushion 6 by reason of thefrictional engagement therewith. The device allows a flexible control ofthe steering apparatus of the car, even when in mud or on rough roads,or when striking objects in the road.

I'Vhat I claim is:

1. A disk cushion clutch for use in regulating the operation of steeringgears, comprising a ring-shaped disk of thick material and of flexiblecharacter, and metal disks of similar shape in frictional engagementwith the first-named disk, said disks being inclosed within the casingof and mounted on the steering gear the uppermost disk being similarshape without the frictionally engaging portions all interposed betweenthe steering gear casing and steering gear for frictional engagementwith said members, substantially as shown and for the purposesdescribed.

FREDERICK M. MELVIN.

